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THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Yankeetown, FL
Wednesday November 21, 2007
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Permit No. 4
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Newscaster Publishing
Have A Safe & Happy Thanksgiving!
Sally Price Correspondent
Squawk Box FWC
With Doug Johnston
confiscates
Ten Thanksgiving Tidbits
six big cats in
With your turkey and
crackling cornbread dressing,
candied yams, corn on the cob,
Inverness
fresh mustard greens, green
bean casserole and cranberry
sauce followed with pumpkin
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva-
pie topped with vanilla ice cream, digest these
tion Commission (FWC) officials confiscated
tidbits.
five tigers and a lion from a big-cat facility in
1) I am thankful our native son Justin
Inverness on Friday.
Mashburn is making a remarkable recovery
FWC Investigator Ken Holmes said
from the severe injuries he incurred in the
the cats were removed from 6 N. Robin Hood
horrific accident he was involved in. Justin is
Road, a facility owned by Susan Mackay.
not out of the woods yet, but is well on his
Because of continual violations at the facil-
way to a full recovery.
ity, the FWC sent Mackay a notice of intent
2) I am thankful to Cemex Corporation and
to revoke her license on Aug. 23. She had 21
Todd Sumlin for the effort they made and re-
days to request an administrative hearing or
sources they provided to complete the Inglis
Thanksgiving at the Wildlife Park
90 days to transfer the big cats to a licensed
Bike Path. Those people have been a god-
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park recently gave some of the park's animals treats in
facility. She did not request a hearing, so her
send for the Inglis/Yankeetown area.
pumpkins. Pictured here are the two Black Bears Biddie and Brutus. The wildlife care staff
license was denied, according to FWC offi-
3) Ditto Bill Bachschmidt and DAB.
prepared these special pumpkins with favorite treats for each animal as part of their animal
cials.
4) I am thankful for our Inglis Police Depart-
enrichment program. Photos by Susan Strawbridge
Warnings to the facility began in
ment. I think the city should be proud of the
August 2005, when an inspection revealed
Inglis Talks Annexation and Limiting
force that they have put together. Timmy Bible
two cages were too small for the animals. Some
and the young officers he has employed are
of the cages had standing water, and two were
Parking on U.S. 19 to Three Hours
level headed and dependable. I should men-
completely flooded.
tion that Lorraine Barber is an integral part of
The first citation occurred on April
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
stated that "CEO Jeff Lyash had stated twice
22, 2006, for possession of captive wildlife
By Tom Russell
they would not be annexed unless they re-
with an expired license and for not providing
Newscaster Editor
ceived power generation ability. The discus-
cages large enough for the big cats. Warn-
sion was on noise pollution, which the ex-
In search of additional tax revenue
Food Ranch
ings were issued for other caging violations
perts stated that "35 decibels would wake you
Inglis Mayor Caroly Risher brought to the
as well.
up in the still of the night." The noise limit for
The Newscaster
November 14 meeting talk of annexing prop-
In May 2006, a Citrus County court
Inglis is 65 decibels.
erty to the town.
found Mackay guilty of housing a lion and
13th Annual Holiday
The discussion also revealed the
Mayor Risher brought up her
tigers without providing proper caging. She
Window Painting Contest
Progress Energy switchyard property is only
agenda item annexing property from the east
was ordered to comply with the appropriate
35 feet from P.J. Rimes property and would
town limit to Tuckaho near Peaceful acres in
Saturday Dec. 8, 2007
regulations for the large cats.
possibly drop the value and every other
the county. Several property owners were
During inspections on Aug. 3, 2006,
8am-12noon
riverfront house on the Citrus County and
present and stated they will not consent to
another citation was issued for unsanitary
Levy side of the river. Rimes stated she is
be annexed. Commissioner Lake stated that
conditions and failure to meet the nutritional
against the annexation. The estimated added
Ruth Rupert's property now being taxed at
needs of the lion and tigers. Warnings were
Fun
taxes collected from the property is around
about $1100 would increase to $1500 if it was
issued for other caging violations. Since the
&
$23 thousand. Commissioner Berger said that
in the city. He did not believe anyone should
animals were malnourished and very thin, U.S.
Prizes
"the property was incompatible with surround-
be annexed that did not want it. Commissioner
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector
for
ing land; is located on environmental resource
Betty Berger added that all their utilities would
Thomas Callahan, D.V.M., performed a joint
areas, city water is needed for cooling pur-
increase by 10% due to franchise taxes for
All Ages
inspection with Holmes on the facility Aug. 7,
poses, and warm water would be put into the
town property. No vote taken.
2006, and gave Mackay two weeks to improve
river and Chapter 163 F.S. states the town shall
Mayor Risher also had on the
the animals' health or the animals would be
enforce land development to ensure activi-
agenda, annexation of Progress Energy prop-
confiscated.
erty located in Inglis. Commissioner Berger
Continued on page 3 - Annexation Talk
Continued on page 3 - Big Cats